News
A residents group has appealed last month's decision by the Municipality of the District of Chester to grant the wind farm a development agreement.
Members of the Friends of South Canoe Lake are concerned about the setback distances of turbines and their potential effects on residents' health and property values.
Green Energy Act: Ontario government still sees no evil
April 27, 2013 by Ross R. McKitrick and Kenneth P. Green in Toronto Sun
April 27, 2013 by Ross R. McKitrick and Kenneth P. Green in Toronto Sun
Earlier this month the Fraser Institute published a report sharply critical of one of the flagship policies of the Ontario government, the Green Energy Act (GEA). We found the Act is costing Ontario over $5 billion annually but yields negligible environmental benefits, and that equivalent or greater benefits could have been achieved using conventional pollution control measures at less than one-tenth the cost.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy|
Canada]
State clean energy study changes look At hydropower and biomass
April 27, 2013 by Brian Dowling in The Hartford Courant
April 27, 2013 by Brian Dowling in The Hartford Courant
The state's energy department released a final version of its study recommending changes to how Connecticut supports clean energy Friday after weeks of public debate on the plan that initially blazed a wide path for large-scale hydropower to be included in the state's portfolio of renewables.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy|
Connecticut]
After glitch, Georgia Mountain turbines to spin again
April 26, 2013 by Terri Hallenbeck in Burlington Free Press
April 26, 2013 by Terri Hallenbeck in Burlington Free Press
The four wind turbines on Georgia Mountain, stationary for a week, are expected to spin back into action in the near future while technicians run safety checks, a company official said Thursday.
A faulty electrical component at the site’s tie-in with power lines caused the turbines to shut down automatically, project manager Martha Staskus told the Burlington Free Press.
Germany's clean energy drive fails to curb dirty brown coal
April 26, 2013 by Vera Eckert and Christoph Steitz in Reuters
April 26, 2013 by Vera Eckert and Christoph Steitz in Reuters
Germany's green energy drive is proving surprisingly good for dirty brown coal as utilities squeezed by rival renewables and low wholesale gas prices use more of it.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy|
Germany]
Wind turbines 'could allow enemy jets to sneak into British airspace'
April 26, 2013 in The Telegraph
April 26, 2013 in The Telegraph
The Ministry of Defence is fighting plans for two giant wind turbines over fears the towers could mask enemy jets entering British airspace. ..."The creation of 'false' aircraft display on the radar leads to increased workload for both controllers and aircrews and may have a significant operational impact.
DNR: Windmills can pose threat to birds, bat populations
April 26, 2013 by Chris Lamphere in Cadillac News
April 26, 2013 by Chris Lamphere in Cadillac News
"The relationship between turbine development and bird death caused by collision with blades is predictable," Cleveland said. "If a lot of birds are known to move through an area and a developer decides to put up a windmill in that area, it's safe to say a lot of those birds would be killed by blades. Wind developers have to be careful about this."
Also filed under [
Impact on Wildlife|
Michigan]
Fourmile Ridge wind farm gets PSC approval; Building begins after Garrett issues permits
April 26, 2013 by Elaine Blaisdell in Cumberland Times-News
April 26, 2013 by Elaine Blaisdell in Cumberland Times-News
The project is also awaiting Federal Aviation Administration approval because there was an issue with the Grantsville VOR/DME system. ...With Garrett County as an ideal spot for wind turbines, all of the projects will and do affect the safety and economic outlook of the Garrett County Airport, said Kelley in a letter to Melinda George of the FAA.
Large turnout for public meeting against wind turbines
April 26, 2013 by David Seymour in Peterborough Telegraph
April 26, 2013 by David Seymour in Peterborough Telegraph
Scores of concerned residents attended a public meeting in Thorney this evening (April 25) over controversial proposals for a wind farm near the village.
The Thorney Landscape Protection Group had called the meeting in opposition to plans for eight wing turbines, 126.5m high, at Gores Farm, in Whittlesey Road, Thorney.
Council leader tells inquiry that local people should decide and they do not want six more wind turbines
April 26, 2013 by John Elworthy in Cambs Times
April 26, 2013 by John Elworthy in Cambs Times
"In this case, local people, the parish council, the district council, the local county councillor and local MP don't want the wind farm. Local opinion should carry significant weight or we create a democratic deficit."
Native American Heritage Commission declares Ocotillo wind site a sacred site; asks attorney general to weigh legal action
April 26, 2013 by Miriam Raftery in East County Magazine
April 26, 2013 by Miriam Raftery in East County Magazine
By a 4-0 vote, with the remaining commissioners absent, the NAHC voted to grant requests by Viejas and Quechan tribes to declare the 12,400 acre Ocotillo wind project site a sanctified Native American sacred site. Further, the commissioners voted unanimously to ask California Attorney General Kamala Harris to research if legal action can be taken.
Local duo deliver wind farm petition to First Minister
April 26, 2013 by Rachel Blackburn in Strathearn Herald
April 26, 2013 by Rachel Blackburn in Strathearn Herald
Mrs Beaumont, the chair of East Strathearn Community Council, said: "I think the fact that he agreed to meet with us is quite telling and we did manage to put our points across to him and make our position clear so it was a useful meeting.
"We also highlighted the fact that the petition was signed by people from all over the world, not just Scots.
Also filed under [
Impact on People|
UK]
Kim Fried, chairman of the Town of Newark's Planning Commission, which amended the Town Plan last year to ban industrial wind projects, a change overwhelmingly supported by residents, said "We are very disappointed and saddened. Neither SMW, the PSB or the state of Vermont appear to care about the concerns of Newark's citizens and I think this attitude towards small towns is beginning to bother many other citizens across the state, as it should.
Michael Fallon will shortly publish planning protections and proposals for a scheme of community "payments" for residents who agree to allow wind turbines near their homes. ...He also warned that he would not tolerate some areas being "swamped" by applications for wind farms. Several councils have been frustrated in their attempts to block such developments and have faced multi-million-pound legal bills.
Hager vows bill capping renewable energy mandate remains alive
April 26, 2013 by Dan Way in Carolina Journal
April 26, 2013 by Dan Way in Carolina Journal
A handful of House Republicans dealt a stunning blow to state Rep. Mike Hager's bill to phase out slowly North Carolina's subsidies, tax credits, and purchase mandates propping up renewable energy companies. Despite this setback, the Rutherford County Republican said he plans to bring House Bill 298 to another committee vote.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy|
North Carolina]
Wind power opponents taking heart at new court ruling
April 25, 2013 by Wes Keller in Orangeville Citizen
April 25, 2013 by Wes Keller in Orangeville Citizen
Lawyer Eric Gillespie and Wind Concerns Ontario are taking heart from a Superior Court ruling that persons in the proximity of industrial wind turbines can commence a civil action against turbine proponents and host landowners when and if a wind farm development has been approved for construction.
Also filed under [
Impact on People|
Canada]
County keeps wind energy request up in air
April 25, 2013 by Kelly Taylor-Jerome in Huron County View
April 25, 2013 by Kelly Taylor-Jerome in Huron County View
The County Board of Commissioners decided to send a message regarding wind energy projects in the county by opting not to act on a request to release from 26.311 acres in Windsor Township PA 116 for the purpose of building an energy substation planned for the Thumb Loop.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy|
Michigan]
Panel blows off wind farm; County Board has the final say
April 25, 2013 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley News
April 25, 2013 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley News
By a 3-2 vote, the Zoning Board of Appeals recommended denial of Ireland-based Mainstream Renewable Power's proposed 53 turbines. The County Board, which meets May 21, has the final say.
The decision ended a decade in which the wind energy industry largely drove the county's approval process.
Woodstock selectmen, Patriot Renewables talk changes to wind ordinance
April 25, 2013 by Alison Aloisio in The Bethel Citizen
April 25, 2013 by Alison Aloisio in The Bethel Citizen
Spruce Mountain Wind representatives last week talked with Woodstock officials about possibly altering the town's new wind ordinance to someday allow them to replace their existing turbines with ones that would be quieter overall.
The ordinance restricts future wind projects by imposing a lower maximum decibel level for sound generated by the turbines and greater setback from property lines, along with other requirements.
Also filed under [
Zoning/Planning|
Maine]
John Alexander, chairman of the panel, said that setbacks are really the one area where the county has some authority. Alexander said residents who live as far as 1,600 feet or more from turbines have testified that they are affected by the noise.
But the panel also discussed that if the setbacks are increased more than the existing 1,200 feet, it could eliminate any further development for wind energy.
Also filed under [
Zoning/Planning|
Illinois]